Why cant they make a better paint can in plastic Doesnt rust and easy open pour lid and handle And in half gallons Existing paint cans are horrible to work with?

Answer 1

There are many fine "hybrid" cans that are primarily plastic except for a metal chime and lid that work great. The problem with many of the all plastic cans is that they do not seal properly, so when they are spun or shook at the paint store, they leak paint around the lid onto the painting equipment. Also, they don't reseal well once they've been opened so the paint doesn't have near the shelf life of a can with a metal lid.

The problem isn't the can though, the problem is how the can that you use to store the leftover paint is handled. If you work directly from the can, allow the paint to run down the outside of the can and just put the lid on and put it out in the shed once the job is done, then the paint will not have a long shelf life at all.

For longest shelf life, use an actual paint can opener, like a church key, to pry the lid off the can. This will ensure that the lid edge remains flat so that it opens easily the next time. Also, don't paint directly from the can, pour the paint from the can into a separate work pot or into your roller tray, then clean out the chime prior to putting the lid back on to the can. Hammer the lid down evenly with a mallet, clean off any paint on the outside of the can, especially if it's a metal can, then store the can in an area that is not exposed to weather.

Another option is to purchase quart cans from the paint store and pour off your excess paint into them so that the lid and chime are pristine. That's the most important part of sealing the can, is keeping the chime clean and keeping the lid in like-new shape.

As far as half gallons, there's only a limited amount of storage in any paint store, so the sizes are limited to quarts, gallons and fives. Other than 55 gallon drums, any other sizes are rare and are usually used to package components for multi-part coatings.